Muscle knot release · Murray Hill, NYC
Trigger Point Therapy in NYC
You press on a tight spot in your shoulder and feel it in your head, or a knot near your shoulder blade seems to send pain down your arm. These tender spots are called trigger points, and they can make pain show up far from where the problem actually begins.
Dr. Alex Kaminsky, D.C., is a Certified Craniosacral Therapist and a licensed chiropractor since 2000. At his office in Murray Hill, he finds and releases these knots by hand and with tuning forks. He never uses needles or injections.
What Is a Trigger Point?
A trigger point is a small, tight knot in a muscle that hurts when pressed. Most people simply call it a "knot." These spots can cause referred pain, meaning pain you feel in a different part of the body.
Some common patterns:
- Upper shoulder (trapezius): pain that spreads up the neck to the side of the head
- Neck and jaw muscles: headaches, jaw pain, or pain around the ear
- Buttock and hip muscles: pain in the low back, hip, or even near the tailbone
The practice of mapping these knots and their pain patterns goes back to Dr. Janet Travell, an American physician who began this work in the 1940s.
Trigger Points and Headaches
Research supports a link between neck and shoulder knots and recurring headaches. A small 2006 study looked at people with chronic tension-type headaches. Nearly half (45 percent) recognized pain from a knot in their upper shoulder as their usual headache. If your headaches seem to start in your neck or shoulders, these knots may be part of the picture. See also our page on migraine and headache.
Why City Life Creates Knots
Long hours at a laptop, looking down at a phone, and carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder all load the same neck and shoulder muscles. Add a long commute and constant stress, and those muscles rarely get a real break. Over time, tight spots can turn into tender knots that send pain elsewhere.
How Dr. Kaminsky Treats Muscle Knots
Finding the source
Dr. Kaminsky starts by tracking where you feel pain and pressing gently on nearby muscles to locate the knots that reproduce it. Because pain is often referred, the spot he treats may not be the exact spot that hurts.
Gentle hand pressure, not massage
He uses steady, gentle hand pressure on the knot until he feels the tissue begin to soften. This is not massage. Dr. Kaminsky doesn't offer deep tissue, sports, or any other kind of massage. He uses CST and myofascial release, which are different from massage. There are no needles or injections, and no cracking or twisting.
Tuning forks and light-touch care
Dr. Kaminsky may also place a vibrating tuning fork on a knot, part of his sound healing work. Trigger point work is always part of a craniosacral therapy (CST) session, not a separate visit. He also uses myofascial release to ease tension in the surrounding tissue.
Honest expectations
How quickly people respond varies, and lasting change often takes several visits. Results are not guaranteed.
What to Expect at Your Visit
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1HistoryDr. Kaminsky asks where you feel pain, what your daily work involves, and what makes it better or worse. Here's more on what happens at a first visit.
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2Hands-on careYou stay fully clothed. Your visit is a CST session that includes trigger point work. He checks the muscles in the area and treats the knots he finds, adjusting pressure to your comfort.
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3A planAfterward, Dr. Kaminsky will discuss how you felt and recommend how often to come in.
Why People Choose Dr. Kaminsky
- No needles: Knots are treated by hand and with tuning forks.
- Two kinds of training: He is a chiropractor and a Certified Craniosacral Therapist (CST-T, Upledger).
- After-work hours: Appointments run until 9 pm Monday through Thursday at 36 East 36th Street in Murray Hill.
See related care for chronic neck pain, tailbone pain, and fibromyalgia, or read about Dr. Kaminsky's training and background.
Cost and Payment
The office does not take insurance. You'll get an itemized superbill for possible out-of-network refunds. HSA and FSA cards are accepted. See current rates on our cost page.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Is trigger point therapy the same as myofascial release?
They're closely related. Myofascial release works on the wider web of connective tissue. Trigger point work focuses on specific knots and the pain they send elsewhere. Dr. Kaminsky often uses both.
Does trigger point therapy hurt?
You may feel some tenderness when a knot is pressed, since that tenderness is what defines it. Dr. Kaminsky adjusts the pressure to your comfort.
Do you do dry needling?
No. Dr. Kaminsky works by hand and with tuning forks, not needles.
Can I book trigger point therapy on its own?
No. Trigger point work is always part of a craniosacral therapy session.
Do you offer massage?
No. Dr. Kaminsky doesn't offer any kind of massage. He uses CST, myofascial release, and gentle trigger point work.
How many visits will I need?
It depends on how long the knots have been there and what keeps causing them. Dr. Kaminsky will suggest a plan after your first visit.
Do you have evening appointments?
Yes. Appointments run until 9 pm Monday through Thursday and until 6 pm on Friday. All visits are by appointment.
Schedule a visit
Call to Schedule
If a stubborn knot keeps sending pain where you don't expect it, call or text 212-328-1180 to talk with Dr. Kaminsky. Visits are by appointment at 36 East 36th Street in Murray Hill.